Animal-trap.



J. A. POWER.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 9, 1912.

1,065,835, Patented June 24,1913.

Attorneys CQLUMBM PLANDGRAPH C0" WASHINGTON D c NTTED TATF1 PATENT @FFTQE.

JOHN A. POWER, OF OWINGSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. POWER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owingsville, in the county of Bath and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Ani1nal-Trap, of which the following is a specification.

The device constituting the subject matter of this application is a trap adapted to be employed for imprisoning animals of any size.

The invention aims to provide novel means for holding the doors of the trap in open positions, and to provide novel means whereby one door at a time may be moved to an open position.

Another object of the invention is to provide trigger meol'ianism of novel and improved form. The invention aims to pro vide novel means for operatively connecting said mechanism with the doors.

It is within the scope of the invention to improve generally and to increase the utility of, devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing :-Figure 1 is a horizontal longitudinal section; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a perspective of the trigger mechanism and associated parts; Fig. at is a fragmental perspective of the door; Fig. 5 is a fragmental perspective of the frame; Fig. 6 is an elevation showing one 'end of the plunger; and Fig. 7 is a fragmental elevation of one lever.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a frame 1 which preferably is fashioned from metal. The frame 1 tapers as indicated at 2, from one end of the frame toward the other. The frame may be provided with suitable openings closed by screens 3.

At the wider end of the frame 1 are located doors 4, the doors 4 and the frame 1 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 9, 1912.

Patented June 24, 1913. Serial No. 735,866.

being provided with cooperating knuckles 5 receiving pins 6 which support the doors. The springs 7 are engaged around the pins 6, the ends of the spring 7 being engaged with the side portions of the frame 1 and with the doors 1-, so as to swing the doors into closed position. At the wider end of the frame 1 are located an upper stop 8 and a lower stop 9', the stops 8 and 9 being adapted to engage the doors 4: to prevent the doors from swinging outwardly beyond alinement. At their meeting edges, the doors 4 are equipped with rearwardly projecting ears 10 having openings 11. If desired, the doors 4 may include screens 12.

Mounted upon or formed integrally with the side portions of the frame 1 are guides 14 in which plungers 15 are mounted to reciprocate longitudinally. The plungers 15 are provided with abutments 16, receiving springs 17, the springs 17 abutting against the guides 14. The plungers 15 are inclosed in tubular shields 18 which are supported preferably by the guides 14. The plungers 15 are equipped with out-- wardly extended finger pieces 19 which project beyond the outer face of the frame 1, the finger pieces 19 moving in slots 20 formed in the side walls of the frame' The extremities of the plungers 15 are beveled as indicated at 21 and are provided with shoulders 22. The bevel indicated at 21 facilitates the insertion of the ends of the plungers into the openings 11 in the ears 10 on the doors.

Levers 24 are fulcrumed as indicated at 25 between the'ears 26 which project in wardly from one end wall of the frame 1. The outer ends of the levers 24- are pivotally connected as indicated at 23 with the rear .ends of the plungers 15. The inner ends of the levers 24: terminate in the reduced spindles 27 having enlarged heads 28. Links 29 are engaged with the spindles 27 for sliding movement and for swinging movement in the direction in which the, levers 2% swing.

Projecting from one end wall of the frame 1 is a supporting bracket 30, upon which is fulcrumed intermediate its ends, a vertically movable trip 31 provided with foot plate 32. The trip and the foot plate will be constructed as may be desired, de pending upon the nature of the animal which is to be entrapped. The trip 31 preferably is formed with spaced walls 33 between which the outer end of the bracket 30 is received, there being a pivot pin 34 extended through the bracket 30 and through the walls to afford a pivotal mounting for the trip 31. In its forward edge, the trip 31 is slotted as indicated at 35 to re ceive a bait holder 36 which preferably is formed in the nature of the hook, the same being located above the foot plate 32. A pivot pin 37 is extended. through the upper end of the trip 31 and through'the up per end of the bait holder 36, the pin 37 being provided with enlarged heads 39. The forward ends of the links 29 are engaged by the ends of the pin 37, within the heads 39, for sliding movement and for swinging movement in the direction of which the levers 24 swing.

A lid 39 is hinged as indicated at 40 to the upper portion of the frame 1, the lid being located above the trigger mechanism above described. If desired, the lid 39 may be provided with a screen 40. A suitable locking means 42 is provided for holding the lid. 39 in a closed position.

The operation of the device hereinbefore described is as follows: The doors 4 are swung inwardly, the springs 7 being put under tension. By means of the finger nieces 19 the alun 'ers 15 are advanced so. 1 7 n that the beveled ends 21 of the plungers en-- gage in the openings 11 in the ears 10 of the doors. The shoulders 22 are adapted to engage the ears and to limit the forward movement of the plungers. During the forward movement of the plungers, the springs 17 will be put under compression between the abutments 16 and the guides 14. The springs 17 are not of suflicient strength to retract the plungers 15, but they serve to assist the trigger mechanism in retracting the plungers. When the plungers 15 are advanced in the manner hereinbefore described, to engage with the doors 4, the inner, adjacent ends of the levers 24 will be swung rearwardly. At this point it may be noted that owing to the presence of the links 29, and owing to the fact that the links 29 are slidably mounted, each of the plungers 15 may move individually into engagement with the respective door 4, the setting of the trap being thereby facilitated. The links 29 are mounted not only to slide longitudinally, but to swing transversely, as well, in the plane in which the levers 24 swing. A binding of the links is thereby avoided, and each plunger 15 may be set separately. Should an animal, entering the trap, seize the bait upon the bait holder 36, or should the animal tread upon the foot plate 32, the trip 31 will be swung upon its fulcrum 34, the links 29 tilting the levers 24 and retracting the plungers 15 so that the same no longer engage with the ears 19 upon the I doors 4. Thereupon the doors 4 will snap shut, under the action of the springs 7 Owing to the fact that the plungers 15 are inclosed within the shields 18, the plungerswill not be struck by the animal while the animal is entering the trap, an accidental springing of the trap, before the animal 1s entirely lnclosed, being thereby avoided.

Owing to the fact that the frame 1 of the trap tapers as indicated at 2, and owing to the fact that the trigger mechanism is located in the narrow end of the trap, it will be impossible for an animal, having entered the trap, to turn around and retreat from the trap before the trigger mechanism is engaged.

The lid 39 serves to give access to the trigger mechanism, and serves, further, as a means whereby the animal may be removed readily from the trap.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:-

1. A trap comprising a frame; doors hinged thereto; resilient means for closing the doors; levers fulcrumed upon the frame; means connected with the levers for holding the doors open; a trip pivoted to the frame; a bait holder; :1 single element connecting the bait holder with the trip; and slidable links uniting the connecting element with the levers, to permit the doors to be disposed separately in open position.

2. A trap comprising a frame; a door movably connected with the frame; resilient means for closing the door; a lever fulcrumed upon the frame; means for connecting the lever with the door operatively to hold the door open; trigger mechanism pivoted upon the frame; a pin mounted in the trigger mechanism and provided with an enlarged head, the lever being provided with an enlarged head; and a link engaged by the heads for sliding movement and for swinging movement.

3. A trap comprising a frame; a door hinged thereto; resilient means for closing the door; a guide on the frame; a plunger slidable in the guide and adapted to engage the door to hold the same open; an abutment on the plunger; a spring interposed between the abutment and the guide; trigger mechanism operatively connected with the plunger, the spring serving to assist the trigger mechanism in disengaging the plunger from the door.

4. A trap comprising a frame; a door hinged thereto; resilient means for closing the door; a guide on the frame; a tubular shield supported by the guide; a plunger mounted to slide in the guide and located within the shield, the plunger being adapted to engage the door to hold the door open; an abutment on the plunger; a spring e11 gaging the abutment and the guide to aid as my own, I have hereto affixed my signain liftlfictllg the plcilinger out of (ingagement ture in the presence of two Witnesses. Wit t e oor; an trigger mec anism operatively connected with the plunger to re- JOHN POWER 5 tract the plunger from engagement With the Witnesses: door. G. B. DAWSON,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing L. O. KIMBROUGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

